Lexington High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results Ten Year Trends

Background on Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey Department of Education administers the Youth Risk Survey in selected high schools every other year. Analysis of YRBS since 1995; survey has been modified each year to include more specific questions about various risk behaviors Focuses on the major risk behaviors that threaten the health and safety of young people. –tobacco use; alcohol and other drug use; sexual behavior that might lead to unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease; dietary behavior; physical activity; and behaviors associated with intentional and unintentional injury. Survey is anonymous

Demographics of Most Recent Survey (N=1,455) Grade: 30% in 9th, 26% in 10th, 25% in 11th, and 18% in 12th Sex:49% male, 51% female Ethnicity:69% White, 5% Black, 2% Hispanic/Latino, 16% Asian, 8% Other Residence: 96% live in Lexington, 3.5% live in Boston

Patterns of Student Cigarette Use In 2004, 14.5% of all students report smoking cigarette in past 30 days –Lower than the 21% state average Active smokers: 4.2% males and 3.7% females reported smoking days during the past month Males start smoking earlier than females (6.5% males vs 3.9% females started before age 13)

Smoking has gone down significantly since 1995

Patterns of Student Drug Use In 2004, 21% reported using marijuana in the past 30 days. –Lower than the 28% state average –Males are more likely to smoke marijuana than females (21.5% and 19.5% respectively) 5% reported using cocaine in the past 30 days. 11% reported sniffing glue/aerosols in their lifetime. 7% reported using Ritalin to get high in their lifetime

Reported Drug Use Down Over Time Marijuana use has gone down over the past ten years (33% in 1995 only 21% in 2004) Serious drug use (LSD, ecstasy, heroin, cocaine etc.) has gone down as well (20.6% used at least once in 1995 only 11% in 2004) In 1995, 14.3% reported they had sniffed glue/aerosol in their life compared to only 11% in 2004.

Patterns of Student Drinking In 2004, 49% of students reported having at least one drink in the past 30 days –Higher than the 46% state average –Gender differences in drinking: 51% of males have had one drink in past 30 days 47% of females have had one drink in past 30 days 27% of students reported binge drinking (more than 5 drinks in a row) in the past 30 days (same as statewide average, 27%) Age first started drinking: 35% never drank 19% under age 13 46% over age 13

Changes in Student Drinking Over Time

Students who have more than 1 drink in the last 30 days are more likely to engage in other risky behavior

Sexual Activity Approximately 23% of students report having sexual intercourse –11% of 9 th graders –19% of 10 th graders –33% of 11 th graders –40% of 12 th graders Trends of students having sex fairly consistent across 10 years. Proportion of sexually active student who report using a condom has increased from 66% to 72% across 10 years.

Sexual Activity –Oral Sex 35% of students report having oral sex –21% of 9 th graders –31% of 10 th graders –43% of 11 th graders –51% of 12 th graders National poll of year olds (2004) found 13% reported having oral sex Of those who have had oral sex, 27% report having more than 4 partners Strong relationship to alcohol use and oral sex: –14% of students who report no alcohol in last 30 days have had oral sex –45% of student who report drinking on 1-5 days –82% of students who drank 6+ times in last 30 days

Stress 95% of students report being under some stress –21% report being under “extreme stress” (up from 16% in 2002) 80% report the atmosphere in Lexington High School encourages academic competition (agree and strongly agree) 80% report the atmosphere in the town of Lexington encourages academic competition (agree and strongly agree) Although extreme stress has increased, programs to reduce stress may have impact –Strongly agree that the atmosphere at LHS encourages competition decreased from 48% in 2002 to 38% in 2004

Progress Made in Reducing Suicide

Conclusions Much progress over 10 years in area of suicide reduction, smoking and drug use Continued work needed to reduce drinking and other risky behavior and stress among students Stress of LHS may contribute to risky behavior. This atmosphere makes health programming particularly important